More than 100 people killed in attacks in Iraq today. In the usual pattern in these filthy colonial wars, civilians were the bulk of those killed. The war of beheadings has continued in its grotesque fashion as well. You’ve heard of the South Korean who was beheaded. The Taliban and the US allies are apparently beheading one another in Afghanistan.
Patrick Cockburn published an article on Iraq, I assume originally in Counterpunch, but republished on ZNet. He speculated on the nature of Iraq after June 30.
Discussing Iyed Allawi, Iraq’s new PM’s strategy to restore order, Cockburn says Allawi “wants to rebuild an Iraqi army and security force by persuading senior officers from Saddam Hussein’s army to reconstitute their units. He says he will centralise control of the armed forces so they are no longer auxiliaries for the US army, and direct them against the insurgents. “
But I had always assumed, without much to confirm it, that much of the insurgency, particularly in the early days, was precisely reconstituted units of the army. Directing these against themselves is likely to be a difficult proposition indeed. I could be wrong on this.
Rahul blogged about today’s violence arguing that it is very dangerous for Iraq right now. Not sure if I agree, but worth reading. Also very much worth reading is Dilip Hiro’s analysis of the June 30th business.
